Just returned from a trip Dec 8th to 15th. Some observations (I know most of you will disagree and that's fine):
1. The Disneyland Hotel: We had always wanted to stay here, hearing so many good things about it. My quick summary after staying here a week though is that this might be the most overrated hotel I have ever stayed at. With my AP discount, I got my room for about $320 on average per night. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was very underwhelming. The room is fine....its about what you might expect at say a Marriott or a Hilton. The bathroom was a bit below par, thought I must admit the room was...well....roomier than most 4 star hotels. Be aware that the wifi is terrible and drops off often. Be aware that if you want to park a car there, you have to pay them $15 per night on top of the outrageous rate already....and you have to walk what seems like a mile to your room. Be aware that if you want to use their business center, they'll charge you $5 per ten minutes and $1 per printed page. The pool is very large and nice, but really nothing special. The waterslide is good for small children. My breaking point came when I wanted to take my family to Goofy's for dinner. I walked in and they wanted $48 for each of us......anyone over 9. I don't know about you, but my 10 and 11 year old don't eat $48 worth of food in 4 days let alone one meal. What a joke.
2. Since we stayed on site, we tried many of the restaurants in downtown Disney. We tried House of Blues, ESPN, Naples and Earl of Sandwich. House of Blues was decent, but VERY expensive for what you get. $9 cocktails and overpriced food for the most part - however that was expected. I had always wanted to try it and did. I probably will never go back. Napes was horrendous. Extremely expensive and we got Pizza that tasted like it was an undercooked frozen pizza. Do not go. ESPN - we liked this place. Biggest reason was that I am a huge hockey fan and I could see my team play here - while the kids entertained themselves in the games area. Like everything it's not cheap though. The games will cost you a fortune - use your AP to get double points. Earl of Sandwich is ok. Good sometimes, bad others.
3. The worst thing about staying on site is that you can't get away from any of the price gouging. Wherever you eat, you get hammered - and the food is not even that good. Mimi's across from Disney was just as good as any meal I have had at Disneyland, and it's reasonable with lots of extra's. Most of the big shiny bright lighted restaurants in Downtown Disney are all style and no substance.
4. Park food is not that good and costs a fortune. I think everyone knows this already.
5. The CM at Disney have become progressively ruder each time I have visited. There is an underlying notion from many of them that you are lucky to be there and having them serve you, not the other way around. Most of them talk to me like they are my teacher. Don't get me wrong, many are very nice......but there is a very large contingent that simply have no customer service skills. Disney needs to get to work on this.
6. The whole Christmas thing did nothing for me. It was 23 degrees and warm......hard to get into the Christmas spirit. This is probably because I come from snow.....many of you will not have this issue.
7. The crowds were extreme. Most days during the week I was there - 8th through 15th - it was about a 6/10. Friday and Saturday were 10/10. You could not move in Disneyland either of those days. That was very disappointing - as we had expected mid week crowds to be low.
8. There is such a thing as too much Disney, imo. Staying off site allows you to get away from everything every day and recharge a bit. I missed that. I missed the slow pace of Mimi's or the Howard Johnson. Staying on site - you always have the Disney music in the background, Disney characters roaming - you just never get a break. For some that's a good thing, I suppose. For me it was not.
Perhaps I just need a break from Disneyland, I am not sure. I am not one that minds paying for entertainment, meals, etc. What I felt like this time though - was that I was being gouged at every turn and that most of the people gouging me made me feel like I was the recipient of an unbelievable privilege just to be served by them. I paid $499 x 5 for AP's this year, because we were visiting twice. For that, I got a reduced rate on site - at about $320 average (LOL - reduced!), and 10% off inflated food and merchandise. It's all just too much for what we are getting, IMO. Disneyland will start pushing people away. Once it gets a rep like that, I am concerned it may turn people off long term. It's really straddling the boundary between acceptable and overpriced....but I suppose in their opinion if saps like me are willing to shell the money out, might as well charge them. I do hope they scale it back a bit though.
1. The Disneyland Hotel: We had always wanted to stay here, hearing so many good things about it. My quick summary after staying here a week though is that this might be the most overrated hotel I have ever stayed at. With my AP discount, I got my room for about $320 on average per night. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was very underwhelming. The room is fine....its about what you might expect at say a Marriott or a Hilton. The bathroom was a bit below par, thought I must admit the room was...well....roomier than most 4 star hotels. Be aware that the wifi is terrible and drops off often. Be aware that if you want to park a car there, you have to pay them $15 per night on top of the outrageous rate already....and you have to walk what seems like a mile to your room. Be aware that if you want to use their business center, they'll charge you $5 per ten minutes and $1 per printed page. The pool is very large and nice, but really nothing special. The waterslide is good for small children. My breaking point came when I wanted to take my family to Goofy's for dinner. I walked in and they wanted $48 for each of us......anyone over 9. I don't know about you, but my 10 and 11 year old don't eat $48 worth of food in 4 days let alone one meal. What a joke.
2. Since we stayed on site, we tried many of the restaurants in downtown Disney. We tried House of Blues, ESPN, Naples and Earl of Sandwich. House of Blues was decent, but VERY expensive for what you get. $9 cocktails and overpriced food for the most part - however that was expected. I had always wanted to try it and did. I probably will never go back. Napes was horrendous. Extremely expensive and we got Pizza that tasted like it was an undercooked frozen pizza. Do not go. ESPN - we liked this place. Biggest reason was that I am a huge hockey fan and I could see my team play here - while the kids entertained themselves in the games area. Like everything it's not cheap though. The games will cost you a fortune - use your AP to get double points. Earl of Sandwich is ok. Good sometimes, bad others.
3. The worst thing about staying on site is that you can't get away from any of the price gouging. Wherever you eat, you get hammered - and the food is not even that good. Mimi's across from Disney was just as good as any meal I have had at Disneyland, and it's reasonable with lots of extra's. Most of the big shiny bright lighted restaurants in Downtown Disney are all style and no substance.
4. Park food is not that good and costs a fortune. I think everyone knows this already.
5. The CM at Disney have become progressively ruder each time I have visited. There is an underlying notion from many of them that you are lucky to be there and having them serve you, not the other way around. Most of them talk to me like they are my teacher. Don't get me wrong, many are very nice......but there is a very large contingent that simply have no customer service skills. Disney needs to get to work on this.
6. The whole Christmas thing did nothing for me. It was 23 degrees and warm......hard to get into the Christmas spirit. This is probably because I come from snow.....many of you will not have this issue.
7. The crowds were extreme. Most days during the week I was there - 8th through 15th - it was about a 6/10. Friday and Saturday were 10/10. You could not move in Disneyland either of those days. That was very disappointing - as we had expected mid week crowds to be low.
8. There is such a thing as too much Disney, imo. Staying off site allows you to get away from everything every day and recharge a bit. I missed that. I missed the slow pace of Mimi's or the Howard Johnson. Staying on site - you always have the Disney music in the background, Disney characters roaming - you just never get a break. For some that's a good thing, I suppose. For me it was not.
Perhaps I just need a break from Disneyland, I am not sure. I am not one that minds paying for entertainment, meals, etc. What I felt like this time though - was that I was being gouged at every turn and that most of the people gouging me made me feel like I was the recipient of an unbelievable privilege just to be served by them. I paid $499 x 5 for AP's this year, because we were visiting twice. For that, I got a reduced rate on site - at about $320 average (LOL - reduced!), and 10% off inflated food and merchandise. It's all just too much for what we are getting, IMO. Disneyland will start pushing people away. Once it gets a rep like that, I am concerned it may turn people off long term. It's really straddling the boundary between acceptable and overpriced....but I suppose in their opinion if saps like me are willing to shell the money out, might as well charge them. I do hope they scale it back a bit though.
Call me "Goofy" but I know exactly what I am paying for. I feel happy when I'm there, I leave all my cares behind, and have the best time ever! 
